ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-10-CA-228
For Immediate Release
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 KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 22) - Kandahar Governor Tooryali Weesa drove by car for an hour along the main highway to the village of Howz-e-Mdad to the west of Kandahar City.

 The governor met with 350 village elders to discuss governance and outlined a number of development projects, including a link road to allow local farmers swift access to markets. The governor, who was accompanied only by a press party and several officials, said "a year ago a similar shura here attracted only four villagers - now there are hundreds.

 "This would not have been possible without the people helping with security and taking back their village," he added.

 "This has not been possible since 2004 - and would have led to catastrophe even three weeks ago," said Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, Regional Command-South commander. "The Afghans were ecstatic."

 The general said the efforts of Operation Dragon Strike, an on-going clearing operation led by Afghan troops working aside coalition troops in the Zharay and Panjwa'I districts in the Arghandab River Valley, made this event possible.